The Owen Sound Family Y wants to see the provincial government make some changes to Bill 242, legislation that will implement full day learning for four and five year olds this fall.
Family Y CEO Gayle Graham was one of several groups that made a presentation to the Standing Committee on Social Policy at Queens Park.
She says while they support full day learning from a developmental and educational perspective, they fear the legislation will have the unintended effect of de stabilizing Ontario’s overall licensed child care system.
Graham says they are concerned about the bill’s requirement that school boards directly operate before And after school day care programs for children in junior and senior kindergarten.
She says the legislation prohibits school boards from partnering with local not for profit groups to offer these programs.
Graham says currently the Family Y operates 18 child care programs in both the Public and Separate school system in Grey Bruce and she wants the legislation amended to allow the boards to continue this partnership.
She also says that full day kindergarten may result in some small rural day care centres losing a majority of their older children, and that could result in a loss of revenue and possible closure.